The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-09-29
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
WEpsrhe. Sept. 2eth. 1857.

WEBSTER, Sept. z6tn, 1885,.
Rather than wait for the midday mai.
stage, walked up from Webster Fsktion
this morning, distance of q little more
than three miles, not much of q walk in
distance, and beautiful one in practice.
The road runs along the banks Of the
Tuckasegee, now aperfectly clearstream
varying in character very much, sbme'
times flowing sluggishly along with mo-
ton scarcely sufficient to bear away the
dead autumn leaves that here and there
fleck its placid surface, then again spread
ing out into broad ripping sheets and
expanding into a width of q hundred
and fifty yards, then contracting as it is
compressed between opposing mountain
projections, tearing its way over rock and
ledge, and hurrying:on with q fury that
harmonizes harshly with q agenerals pla-
cidity. Here and there are isllnds
densely clad with trees and foliage Sand
spangled with thu bfilliant o1
hover, and the sptendid irost-todenS "a
makes picturesque diversity, and the
whole walk was one ofcharning pictures
and pleasing novelties.
The road from the station to the Court
House is undergoing change, and soon
will run close to tie stream. At present
there are places where it leaves it and
climbs rather steeply closer to the noun
tains than to the river.
Approaching Webster, the most prom
inent object is the new Court House, a
very welcome sight it is with the old one
still in memory with its cracked walls, its
crumbling floors, and its superlatively
uncomfortable appointments; and then
when it became absolutely untenable,
| the Wretched substitutes adopted in
which justice was administered under
such difficulties that the word II is now
that the Justly irritated tenn of jurors
did not lead to more bloody ,erdicts and
more harsh conclusions. Inc contrary
seemed to have been the result, and in
diligence seemed to have been given to
offenders, because the jurors themselves
were SO severely punished, and they en-
braced criminals in common sympathy.
The new Court House externally is
really an elegant building, slightly cruel
form in structure, each arm of the cross
terminated by an elegantly cornieed
gable, and the South end terminated by
massive tower surmounted by hand
some belfry. The general effect is harm
onious and very pleasing. The interior
arrangement of the first floor comprise
all the convenience of good large Office
rooms for the officials. A double flight
of stairs leads to a vestibule above, from
which access is had to two Office rooms
and also to the court room. This is a
handsome we'll finished room, with seats
for the spectators, an ample bar, and 8
judges bench, judiciously raised to a
reasonable height above the bar and
audience. In the rear are retiring rooms
for the jury, with stair cases leading to
the passages below. On examination We
think these rooms might have been dis
pensed with, using for the same purpose
room sbelow, and the space occupied by
them given to the court room which is
smaller than the wants of the public
require. 1t is fault, a prominent on1
and the only one l can detect in the
building. 1t is not the fault of the arch
itect who has done his work admirably
well, and it is not FAULT that will alway;
be recognized. But there will arise
cases of such interest that will far over
crowd existing capacity; and besides the
population of the cIunty is steadily, il
not rapidly increasing. But it were un
gracious to complain In the face of sucS
manifest Improvement.
Felix LeatherWood has taken charge
again of his old hotel 1t is very vel
kept, and the table is bountiful and good
The mountain air is a sharp appetizer
and enc does not need the stimulus o.
Delmonico's viauds or cookery for the
enjoyment of the well prepared plenty
of Felix's table.
The bar is somewhat scattered, James
L. Terrell entertains the Judge and Re
preventative Johnston, Mr.. Nathan Cow
ard has possession of w. w. Jones o
Ashe lille, Mr.. Mckee takes care of Gar
land and Burder Ferguson, A. S. BrysoI
I-Bud-cares for Geo. ". Jones. and Feli2
LcatherW Jod sees that 'iope Elias, Jack
billiard, r. d. Gilmer, Judge Gudger anC
some others are not starved.
The bar on the Circuit is a happy
family, with really brotherly feeling
and if scattered at the tables, come to
gether in such unaffected cordially
everywhe ere else, that they are not re
cognized as the same individuals whit
cross swords and hurl epithets with S,
much ardor and venom in the Cour
House.
Tom Johnston is here and will speal
tomorrow. He has hundreds of warn
, friends here; but he will have need t,
D0bLIF ulIuSCllI AOE JdCkhOu lS tuOC
harmonious as it used to be, all the resul
of being too strong and too confident il
its strength.
Money as usual is scarce here, tn
effect of two successive bad crob years
But the harvest this year is bbuntifu
one, and hopefulness brightens, ever
countenance.
Mining industry is not as active as
has been. Most of the mica mhes ar
4 idle, and the output of last years work
Still on hand on account OF Tow prices
The nickel mines are also idle. / hea
of some more hopefulness in kaolin
which in several localities, is abundan
and of fine quality, and heard to-da,
that the Georgetown gold mines on thl
crest of the Blue Ridge are likely to b.
opened again. They were reopened two
or three years ago, but apparently rathe
for speculation than practical purposes
Forty years ago taey were worked profit
ably yielding between 5000, 900 and $500,
900, and there is no reason to believ,
them exhausted. C.
! We asked friend yesterday what
the news 2" and he replied "Things il
awful quiet" We found them so.